Method of and apparatus for adjusting springs



March 17, 1931.

METHOD OF AND APPARA'IIJS FOR ADJUSTING SPRINGS V C. PAULSON Filed Dec. 28,

2 sheets-sheet 1 March 17, 1931. c, PAULSOM 1,796,805

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ADJUSTING SPRINGS Filed Dec. 28, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. '17, 1931 UNKTED STATES PATENT @FFlill'JE CHRISTIAN PAULSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T "WESTERN ELECTRIC GOM- PANY, INCORPORATED, OF NE'lV YGRK, N. TL, .0. GOBPORATIGN 0F YORK METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR .ADHJ'STING SPRINGS Application filed December 28, 1928. Serial No. 329,033.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for adjusting springs, more particularly the springs of calling dials used in telephone systems.

In the adjusting ofaplurality of interrelated springs which have to meet several requirements, such as are used for contact purposes in electrical devices to produce impulses in an electrical circuit, it is the prac tics in some instances to adjust the springs for one requirement and then readjust them for another requirement. Oftentimes this readjustment makes the springs unsuitable for the first requirement and it is necessary to repeatthe adjustments a number of times until a satisfactory adjustment is obtained.

The objects of this invention are to provide a method of and apparatus for accurately and efficiently adjusting springs and indicating the character of the adjustments.

In order to accomplish these and other objects, there is provided in one embodiment of the invention, a device for facilita ing the adjustment of contact making springs of a calling dial whereby the improved method may be practiced. The dial is clamped in the device with its lower face 1 upward, so that the contact springs thereof engage a locating arm carrying gages for automatically and continuously indicating through signal lamps whether the tension of the springs is within certain requirements. An electromagnetic means is also provided whereby the springs are caused to be moved in their normal path, their distance of travel, and the contact gap between them visually indicated, so that a complete adjustment of each spring is efiiciently obtained at one time.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description when considered with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an end view of the adjusting device looking from the right with the end of the enclosing cabinet and cover cut away; a

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevational view thereof showing a dial in position to be adjusted;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged partial plan view taken on line 8-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. i is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of a part of the apparatus for effecting a predetermined actuation of a calling dial in making necessary adjustments;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the calling dial to be adjusted, and

. Fig. 6 is a diagrannnatic view of the electrical circuit for the adjusting device.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate the same parts throughout the sereralviews, a cabinet 1 0 is provided with metal strips ll having right angled portions 12 for supporting a mounting plate 13 secured thereto by screws 14;. In the lower half of this plate is a semi-circular opening 15 (Fig. of smaller diameter than a calling dial 20 to be clamped therein for adjustment.

The dial, well known in the art, is a device for transmitting a series of electrical impulses by which a connection is antomatically made from one te.ephone line to another telephone subscribers line through the operation of suitable electrical devices. The electrical impulses are produced by rotating a dialing or finger wheel 21 (Figs. 3 and 5) by engaging any one of ten finger holes 22 provided therein and representing the numerals l, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0, or other characters. Thus, by the operator inserting a finger within the finger hole designated as representing digit 2 by characters on the face of a ring 23 positioned in a base 19 directly beneath the dialing wheel 21 and rotating the wheel until a stationary stop 24 is reached and then releasing it, a pawl 25 will be caused to reciprocate at a constant speed to operate a light impulse spring 26 twice. The speed of the pawl 25 is controlled by a governor within a housing 30 (Fig. 2) so that the contact between the light impulse spring 26 and a heavy impulse spring 27 will be opened and closed in a succession of equal periods. Prior to the operation of the light impulse spring 26, another pawl 31 operates a light shunt spring 32 to open its contact with a right hand heavy shunt s1 ring and make contact with a left hand heavy shunt spring 34 for the purpose of shuntin the telephone receiver from the line dur ing the creating of the impulses to prevent a clicking noise which would result from the electrical impulses being transmitted over the line. As shown in Fig. 2, the-contacting springs 26 and 34, 27, 32 and 33 are insulatively mounted on a strip 35 and are connected to terminals 3639 which are likewise mounted on the strip and to which in practice the line conductors (not shown) are connected. For a more detailed description of the calling dial reference may be had to Patent No. 1,161,854 issued to O. F.

furcated lever 46 pivoted to the forward end I of a strip 47 extending through slots in the member l0 and plate 13. Qoil spring :8 surrounding the strip 47 and interposed between the rear side of the plate 13 and a washer l9 secured to the back end of the strip, is provided, whereby upon the movenient of the lever 46 downward, the clamp ing member will be moved forward, compressing first the springs e l and then the heavy coil spring 48' to obtain a resilient clamping action upon the base 19 of the dial 20 inserted between the clamping member 40 and the plate 13. The forward move ment of the clamping member lO closes contacts between the terminals 3639 of the calling dial and individually insulated springs 5053 rigidly mounted on the clamping member. Secured to the mounting plate 13 are right angled plates. 5 l designed to engage the upper part of governor housing 30 and the ternnnal strip 35, respectively, to properly position the dial 20 upon its lnser'tion 1n the clamping member 40. x

Positioned medially of the sides of the mounting plate 13 ant directly'above opening 15 is a locating arm (Figs. 1 and 2) formed integral with a shaft ()1 r0 tatably mounted in a journal 62 and maintained in position by a four-prong, leaf spring 59 bearing against the rear side of the plate 13 and a nut 63 threaded on the end of the shaft. At the upper end of the locating arm aresecured minimum tension gage'66 and maximum tension gage 67 for to the mounting plate arm '38 has a portion 89'formed at a slight messes the light impulse spring 26and minimum tension gage 68 for the light shunt spring 32. These springs are insulated from each other by insulators 6969. For purpose of varying the tension of'gages 67 68, lugs 72-? 2 mounted on each side of the locating arm are provided with screws 73.73. I The maximum tension gage 67 is normally held out of engagement with the minimum tension gage 66 by a lever 'Z 5 rotatably mounted in a flanged member 76 secured to the mounting plate 13, andso maintained by a" torsion spring 77 havingone end looped around a handle 7 8 of the lever 7 5 and the other end pressing against the surface of the mounting plate. To prevent electrical contact between the gage 6-7 and the lever 7 5, a tubular insulator 7,9 is secured thereto. From the foregoing it will be understood that when the handle 78 is' depressed, the" lever will be moved downward to release the maximum tension. gage 6", whereby it force the minimum gage 66 and the will light impulse spring 26 to the right and break the contact between the gage 66 and a terminal 80 insulatively mounted on the locating if the tension of the light impulse spring of the calling dial is below the i aximum requirement. f

The shaft 61 of the locating arm 60 also has secured thereto a bell crank 85, the short arm 86 of which is secured to one end of a coil spring 87 havingits other end fastened and the long angle, which is adaptedto frictionally enanangular lug 90 carried'by the clampmember 40. Tie locating arm 60 is normal position by the sping 87 pulling the'short arm of the bell crank 85 against an adjustable stop 92 fastened to the mounting plate 13.

Secured to the rear side of the mounting plate 13 is a'braclret plate 95 having a shaft 96 journaled therein and disposed centrally of the opening '15 (Figs. land This shaft 96 c rries at its forward end an electromagnet 97 having a pair. of extended armatures 98-98 which are normally maintained apart in contact with stops 100100c by a supporting spring 101 and are adapted to grip the dialing wheel 21 when the electroiagnet is energized. The electromagnetis rigidly mounted on an arm 105 secured to the shaft 96 and having doublelugs 106- 107 for supporting and guiding a lever 108 pivoteo to the lug 106, which lever is normally held upwardly against a guide and stop member 109 by a coil spring 111 having its lower end fastened to the lever and its upper end (Fig. secured to the mounting plate 13.

On the underside'of the lever 108 a strip prevents the lever from being moved straight-downward so that to accomplish a side of the arm 135 and pressing against pivot in the lug 106, to clear the strip 110.

This backward movement operates a switch 113 pivoted at 11 1 to the mounting plate 13 against the tension of a coil spring 115 to move the contacting spring 118, pressing against an insulating pin 117 in the upper end of the switch, into contact with another spring 118 to close an electrical circuit and energize the electromagnet 97. Upon on ergization of the electromagnet, the extended armatures 88-88 grip the dialing wheel of the dial 20, and downward movement of the lever 108 rotates the dialing wheel 21 counterclockwise for purposes of adjust ment, as will be clearly understood as the description progresses.

Operation of the switch 113 also causes energization of an 'electroinagnet 122 mounted on the upper side of the bracket 95 to attract its armature 123, to which is secured an insulated red 12 1 protruding through an aperture 125 in the plate 13,

whereby the rod engages and moves the gage 68 to the left to remove pressure from the light shunt spring 32.

Also on the shaft 96, centrally located .with respect Itl'16 opening 15, there is rotatably mounted an arm 128 which entends to a cutout portion 129 (Fig. 2) at the top of the plate 13 where a roller 130 (Fig. 1) carried by the arm engages a guide 131 secured to the plate 13. A thin metal reed 127 supports and maintains a double lipped scale 132 normally in contact with a guard 133 secured to the arm 128. Another arm 135 rigidly fastened to the shaft 96 and positioned in front of the arm 128 follows the general contour of the latter, passes under the guide 131 and has a double pointer the rectangular opening 137 (Fig. 2) by a leaf spring 138 (Fig. 1) secured to the rear pin 139'on the front side of the arm 128. Mounted beneath the scale 132 is an electromagnet 1 10 which upon being energized attracts the scale 132 and holds it stationary to permit the pointer 136 to move relative thereto through the resilience of the leaf spring 138 when the lever 168 is depressed in adjusting the travel and contact gap of thelight shunt spring 32 of the dial 20 to be described.

A scale 1 15 (Figs. 1 and 2) for ineieating the amount of travel of the light shunt spring 32 is provided on a cover 1 16 which is secured tothe top ofthe cabinet 10 by screws 14i714.-7, and has apertures for accommodating indicating lamps, referred to as gage lamp 148, impulse lamp 1 19,

and shunt lamp 150, suitably mounted on the mounting plate 13 and e ectrically con nected to a circuit, as shown in Fig. 6. The purpose of this circuit and of the apparatus described will be understood from the following detailed description of the adjusting of the contacting springs of a calling dial.

hen the dial 20 has been placed in position, as shown in F' 2 and 3, with the and terminal strip 35 governor hens f 0 abutting the right angled plates respectively, the light impulse spring 26 between the minimum tension gage 6G and the locating arm (30, maximum tension gage -38 to the left of the light shunt spring the lever 16 is pulled down to effect the clamp ing of the base 19 of the dial 28 between the mounting plate 1.3 and the clamping member 10. lVhen the dial is in this position the first ope fation is to properly locate the arm 80 and the tension gages carried thereby, which is accomplished by the operator placi g his finger in any one of the finger holes of the dialing wheel 21, and rotating it clockwise and releasing it whereby the the counter-clockwise rotation thereof reciprooates the pawl 25 which forces the locating arm 60 to the right with the tension ot' the minimum gages 66 and G8 pressing to locat; u held in this position due to the clamping action between the portion 85) of the bell crank 85 and the lug 90 secured to the clamping member 10. The operator then bei l the heavy impulse spring 27 to the left and adjusts the tension of the impulse spring 26 until it overcomes the opposing force of the minimum gage 66 and moves this to the left into contact with the terminal 80 whereby a circuit is completed from battery throng-3h conductors 152151, lamp 148, conductor 1.55, terminal 80, light impulse spring 26, conductors 158 157 to battery. As a result of the completion of this circuit, the lamp is illu1nmated to give a visual indication to the operator that the tension of the light impulse spring 26 above the minimum requirement.

To determine if the impulse spring is below the maximum requirement, the handle 78 is depressed to move the lever 75 downwardto release the .nximuzn t nsion gage 67 whereby the m nimum gagi 'e 6G and the light impulse spring are forced to the right if the tension thereof is below maximum and the Contact between the gage 66 and the terminal 80 opened and the lamp extinguished to notify the operator t-h.. the adjustment of the impulse spring is satisfactory. The tension of the torsion spring 77 cooperating with the handle 78 restores the lever 75 into engagement with the maximum gage 67 upon release of the handle so ll i that the gage lamp is illuminated, again indicating that the tension of the impulse spring 26 is abovethe minimum value.

' The dial should be so adjusted that the ratio of the impulse to the intervals etween impulses is within predetermined limits. Tn the particular-type of dial illustrated, the impulseshould be from 34.75 to 38.25 and the interval between impulses should be within 65.25 to 61.75, respectively, of the total period. in order to make the adjustment to satisfy this condition, the heavy impulse spring 27 is bent to the right until it makes contact with the impulse spring 26 to complete a circuit from battery through conductor 152, conductor 153, impulse lamp 149, conductor 159, spring 51, terminal 37, heavy impulse spring 27 light impulse spring 26, terminal 36, spring 50, conductors 160- 162, and conductors 156-157 to battery. Completion of this circuit illuminates impulse lamp 149 to visually indicate to the operator that-the contact is made. As has been previously described, the gage lamp is illuminated and the heavy impulse spring 27 should not be bent to the right so far as to brealtthe contact between the minimum gage 66 and the terminal 80 to extinguish the gage lamp 148. When the heavy impulse spring 37 is properly adjusted, both the gage lamp 148 and the impulse lamp 149 will be extinguished when the lever 7 8 isdepressed, since the pressure of the maximum tension gage 67 moves the minimum tension gage 66 and the light impulse spring 26 to the right and opens the circuits to battery.

in ad usting the tension of the light shunt spring 32 above a minimum value, the chaling wheel is rotated'through an angle of about 45 to move the pawl 31 out of contact with the light shunt spring 32 which is then bent to the left until it overcomes the tension of the gage 68 and makes contact with the left hand heavy shunt spring 34 to cause illumination of the shunt lamp 150 through the completion of a circuit from battery through conductors 152-154, conductor 164, shunt lamp 150, conductors 165-166, contacting spring 52, terminal 38,

light shunt spring 32, left hand heavy shunt spring34, terminal 36, contacting spring 50, conductors 160-162, conductors 156157 to battery' This signal from the shunt lamp 150 indicates to the operator that the adjustment made is satisfactory. I

The proper adjustment of the dial requires that when the dialing wheel 21 is rotated 5/64 of an inch, represented by the line designated Min on the scale 145, measured along the periphery of the dialing wheel, the light shunt spring 32 shall remain in contact with the right hand heavy shunt spring 33', but before the dialing wheel 21 has been rotated 3/16 of an inch represented by the line Max on the scale 145, the light shunt spring 32 shall be operated to make contact with the left hand heavy shunt spring 34. The light shunt spring 32 must also be adjusted that the contact gap between it and the left hand heavy shunt spring 34 is not less than 0.01 of an inch, which minimum distance is designated by the line 168 on the scale 132. In making this combined travel and contact gap adjustment, the lever 108 is forced backward to clear the strip 110, as has been previ ously described. This backward movement of the lever 108 operates the switch 113 to make contact between contacting springs 116 and 118 whereby the electromagnet 97 is energized by a circuit from battery hrough conductor 152, contacting springs 116118, conductors 169-170,, the windof electromagnet 97, conductor 171, conductor 157 to battery. Energization of the electromagnet 97 operates the pair of extended armatures 9898 to grip the dialing wheel 21 so that upon downward movement of the lever 103 the dialing wheel will be rotated in unison with the arms 128 and 135 carrying the scale 132 and the pointer 136, respectively. Simultaneously with the energization of the electromagnet 97, the electromagnet 122 is also energized to actuate the insulated rod 124 and thereby move the gage 68 to the left out of engagement with the light shunt spring 32 and permit free movement thereof. r

The circuit for energizing the electromagnet 122 is traced from batterythrough conductor 152, contacting springs 116 and 118, conductor 169, conductor 173, the winding of the electromagnet 122, conductors 174, 162, 156 and 157, back to battery. moving the lever 108 downwardly and observing the pointer 136,the shunt lamp 150 will be extinguished when the pointer is between the minimum and maximum lines of the scale 145, respectively, if the travel of the light shunt spring 32 is within the aforesta-ted minimum and maximum requirements. I

At the instant the contact between the right hand heavy shunt spring 33 and the light shunt spring 32 is opened, the energizing circuit for a relay 175 (Fig. 6), traced from battery through conductors 152-154, 164 and 176, the winding of the relay 175, conductors 177, 166, contacting spring 52, terminal 38, light shunt. spring 32, right hand heavy shunt spring 33, terminal 39, contacting spring 53, conductors '160-162, conductors 156157 to battery, is opened. Deenergization of the relay permits its contacting spring "180 through its own tension to move to the right where it makes contact with a terminal 181 to complete a. circuit from battery through conductors 152-154, conductors 164 and 176, contacting 1 spring 180, terminal 181, the

winding of the electromagnet 140, conductors 182,161, 162, 156 and 157 to battery. This circuit energizes the electromagnet 110 and attracts the scale 182 and maintains it stationary while the pointer 1236 continues to move due to the resilient connection between the arms 128 and 1235, as has been described.

It the contact gap is greater than the acceptable minimum requirement the pointer 136 in moving to the left will pass the sec- 0nd line 168 on the scale 132 before the scale is released to indicate that the contact gap is not less than the acceptable minimum limit of 0.01 of an inch. hen the contact gap between the light shunt spring 32 and the left hand heavy shunt spring 34; is less than 0.01 of an inch, the light shunt spring 32 will make contact with the left hand heavy shunt spring 34 before the pointer 186 passes the line 168 on the scale 132 to complete a circuit from battery through conductors 152154, conductors 16 i, 176, the winding of relay 175, conductors 177 and 166, contacting spring 52, terminal 38, light shunt spring 82, left hand heavy shunt spring 3%, terminal 36, contacting spring 50, conductors 160-162, conductors 156-lo7 to battery. This circuit energizes the relay 175 to slice; the movement of contacting spring 180 to the left and open the energizing circuit to the electromagnet 140, whereby it is deenergized and the scale 132 is released and returns into engagement with the right hand side of the pointer through leaf spring 138 interconnecting the arms 128 and 135.

By means of this invention or" maintaining the springs continuously under test while adjusting, it will be apparent that it is not necessary to make a series of readjustments and repeated tests to obtain the re quired result; thus the likelihood of an accumulation of errors in the adjustments is eradicated and the simplified mode of adjusting results in a considerable saving of skilled effort and time.

Although the invention herein described and illustrated is particularly well adapted for adjusting the contacting springs of calling dials, it will be understood that the invention is capable of many other modifications without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of adjusting springs, which consists in adjusting a plurality of springs relative to each other in accordance with predetermined requirements, and continuously subjecting them during the adjusting to test to indicate whether the adjustments are within predetermined requirements.

2. A method of adjusting springs, which consists in positioning the springs, tensioning, andspacing the springs within predetermined requirements, and visually indicating while adjusting the springs Whether the adjustments are within predetermined requirements.

3. A method of adjusting springs, which consists in clamping a device having conact making springs in position for adjustment, tensioning the springs, spacing the springs, actuating the springs to determine the period of contact and separation therebetween under predetermined conditions, and continuously subjecting the springs to test during the adjusting to determine if the adjustments are within predetermined requirements.

4. A method of adjusting springs of the leaf type, which consists in positioning the springs in engagement with gages so as to bejcontinually under test, tensioning the springs within minimumand maximum requirements while indicating the degree of tension, and actuating the springs while simultaneously indicating the distance between springs to determine if the adjustments are within predetermined requirements.

5. In an apparatus for adjusting springs, a gaging means, means for positioning the springs to be adjusted in engagement with the gaging means, andmeans controlledby the movement oi the gagingmeans for automatically indicating the entent of the ad justment.

6. In an apparatus for adjusting sprin s, aplurality of gages, means for operativdly sociating the spring under adjustment wlth the gages, and means controlled by the gages for indicating whether theadjustments are within predetermined acceptable limits.

7. In an apparatus for adjusting springs, a pluralit or testing elements, means for varying tie operating characteristics of'a testing element, means for operatively associating the springs underadjustment with the testing elements, and means controlled by the testing elements for indicating whether the adjustments are within predetermined acceptable limits.

8. In an apparatus for adjusting springs, a support, means for clamping the springs to beadjusted on the support, gaging means pivoted to the support and engaging the springs, means for moving the contacting springs to position the gages to continuously subject the springs to test, and indi'ating means controlled by the gages and the springs for determining the springs are adjusted whether the adjustments'are within predetermined acceptable limits.

9. In an apparatus for adjusting contacting springs of an electrical impulse pro ducing device, a support, gaging means associated therewith, means for positioning the device on the support with the springs in engagement with the gaging means, and electrical means cont-rolled by the gaging means for indicating the character of the adjustments during the adjusting of the springs. i

10.- In an apparatus for adjusting contacting springs of an electrical impulse producing device, gaging means, means for positioning the device with the springs thereof engaging the gaging means, means for operating the gaging means to subject the springs to ,test during the adjusting, and

means responsive to the position of the springs" for indicating if the adjustments thereof are Within predetermined require ments.

r 11. In an apparatus for adjusting contacting springs of an electrical impulse producing device, a support, a member pivoted thereon, gaging means carried by the pivoted member, means for holding the device with the springs thereof in a predetermined position relative to the aging means, means responsive to the adjusting of the springs for indicating the tension thereof, means for effecting the actuation of the device, and means responsive to the actuating means for indicating the distance between the contacting springs.

12. In an apparatus for adjusting contacting springs of an .eiectrical impulse producing device, a support, a member mounted thereon, gaging means carried by the member, means for clamping the device with the springs thereof in a predetermined position relative to the gaging means, electrical means responsive to the adjusting of the springs for indicating the character of an adjustment, electromagnetic means for effecting the actuation of the device, and

means responsive to the actuating means and controlled bythe contacting springs for indicating the contact gap therebetween.

13. In an apparatus for adjusting springs, a'testing element, means for changing the operating characteristics of the testing element, mechanism for rendering said means ineffective, means for operatively associating the springs under adjustment with the testing element, and means responsive to the operation of the testing element for indicating whether the adjustments are within predetermined acceptable limits.

14. in an apparatus for adjusting contact springs 01": an eiectrical impulse producing device, gaging means, means for positioning the device with its springs in engagement with the gaging means, and means controlled byjthe gaging means for indicating the character of the adjustments during the adjusting of the contact springs.

In "witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 13th day of December, A. D.

' CHRISTIAN PAULSON. 

